Flanging and seaming of sheet metal



FbANGING AND SEAMING OF SHEET METAL Filed Feb. 21, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet-l m/z i/ym/Px George William Berrlj Sept 16 1924. 1,508,499

. G. w. BERRY mmeme AND SEAMING OF snmar METAL Filed Feb. 21, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l l 1 l I i 1 I l l eoge William Berry.

ATTORNEY.

Sept. 16 1924. G. w. BERRY FLANGING AND S EAMING OF SHEET METAL 4 shets sheet 4 Filed Feb. 21, 1924.

uwsmn u J .P a 5 m M W 6 ATTOR/YE Patented Sept. 16, 1924.

GEORGE WILLIAM BERRY, or WAKEFIELD, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF T CHARLES JOSEPH RHODES, or WAKEFIELD, ENGLAND. I

FLANGING AND SEAMING OF SHEET METAL.

Application filed February 21, 1924. Serial No. 694,220.

The invention may be applied to a variety of uses, but its principal purpose and the one to which the present embodiment more particularly refers is the attachment of the end or ends or base and cover to sheet metal receptacles of cylindrical and other regular or irregular section.

The improved method involvesthe placing of the body of the work with part or parts to be attached thereto between a stationary anda movable chuck, and consists in said body and part being both flanged in a single operation, and the flanged joint being then curled or seamed and'flattened, the entire operations taking place automatically atone or other or simultaneously at both ends of the work.

The invention comprises novel mechanism:

forautomatically fianging the'bodies of the receptacles and for further flanging the 5 heads or ends (each originally in the form of a partly fiangeddisc fitting in the end of the receptacle with a lip resting on the outer edge of the receptacle) such flanging being carried out in a single operation which 0 is followed by the seaming operations for producing a double sea-med joint between the body and head or end.-

The mechanism of the present invention is equally applicable to machines in which 5 the axes of the chucks and of the receptacle are either-vertical or horizontal or possibly also inclined. I 7

One of the important features of the present apparatus is a structure in which a combined flanging and curling rolleris held by spring pressure in contact with the movable chuck so that it automatically follows the movement of the latter when the receptacle is placed between the chucks, and will arrive atthe correct position to ing operation.

Another feature is that the movement, of

perform its flangthe flanging and curling roller to a position to eifect curling of the flanged joint will displace a seamingroller previously positioned to assist in the flanging operation.

Other features relate to'the methods of mounting the said rollers so that the necessary movements may be effected in proper, sequence and in the means for operatng the movable chuck, retaining it in operative position and automatically or manually releasing same, all as hereinafter fully described. a x

In the accompanying drawings Figs. '1 and 1 taken together constitute a side elevation of one form of the improved ap paratus or machine with certain parts omitted for clearness of illustration; Fig. 2

22 of Fig. 1'

is a cross-section on the line looking in the direction of the arrows; F ig. 3- is an end elevation from the right-hand end. of Fig. 1; and; Fig. 4: is a diagram showing in succession the various stages of making the joint with the form of apparatus above described. 1

Injthesaid drawingsa and b designate the head and tail stocks which are similar in construction, with the exception that the one I) is stationary and the other a is. mov able towards and away from the stationary one toan extent sufficient to freely allow for the depth to which the ends of the receptacles areflanged andseamed, and ifnecessary to provide for-dealing with receptacles or work of different dimensions. For the latter purpose the whole tail-stock a may be independently adjustable by being mounted to slide in the bed "0 of the machine by meansuof a screw a and hand wheel e 9] iVith the exception just stated both stocks are substantially" the same, and comprise rotable plates or chucks 0: 72

which fit into the already flanged ends of the receptacle and when one chuck is moved towards the other they force the lips of both ends against the opposite edges of thereceptacle "body.

, The chuck a is mounted on a shaft a f Theichuck a is held, normally, in retracted carried b bearin s a in the tail stock'a'.

position by springs a (one at each side) acting on levers a pivoted to a collar a on the shaft a and is moved towards the other chuck b by mechanism hereinafter described. The chuck b is mounted on a shaft Z2 carried by bearings 12* inthe head-stock b. The shaft 6 is the main drive shaft of the -ma chine, being provided with a driving pulley b and .supporting members of any suitable or known safety clutch mechanism (not shown). On the said shaft '6 is also a worm 0 which meshes with. a worm wheel 0 on a vertical shaft '0 which, through bevel gears 0', "drives a cam shaft "0 in the base of the machine.

Adjacent each chuck a 6 is a frame sli'diably mounted on the adjacent head or tail-steel; a or b and capable ct vertical adjustm'ent by means or screws 6 extending from thebed in 'orderjthat they may be raised or low red according tothe difierent dia neters'of the work under treatment. The said frames e carry slides c in which are mounted hanging and curling Irollers e and extensions of said frames form guides for rods f carrying sleeves 7 in whiclr are mounted spindles f under the action of springs f and on which are mounted at their outer e'nds'seaming or flattening rollers In addition, the frames. 0 carry adjustably mounted rods 9, on which are mounted at their upper ends rollers g on Which the body of the work rests during operation.

Each rod 7 aforesaid .is vertically lifted by means of a forked lever 41* acting through links alt between which it is adjustably mounted as by screwed portions and inits f and said lever is carried by a shaft (Z which is rocked at the required times by means 'of a cam cl on the aforesaid cam shaft 0 said cam acting 'on a lever d mounted on said shaft (P. The rods f return to normal position by gravity or spring action after being lifted.

The slides a which carry the flanging and curling rollers are adapted to be vertically reciprocate'd .in the frames 6 by means of rods 6 which are adjustably connected (similarly to the rods to other links 6 attached to a forked lever e which is mounted on a shaft h parallel to but below the shaft d? and which is rocked 'at'the required times by a pair of cams 71 72?, on the cam shaft 0 These eams positively rock the shaft h in both directions by acting on a double-armed lever/t whereby the slides e are pcsitivei raised and lowered, The con.- ne tiph beti '11 the re s a and the slide 6' in eflejctegd. by 01"- a T piece 6' shown in Fig. 2.

With the parts so far described the lever n its increment from the cam {Z on eke shaft (Z a1 "1 r ses the se m.- 1' 1e; re hear against the "outer edge of the receptacle, (but allows said roller to drop during the curling operation hereinafter described.)

At the tail-stock end of the machine the flanging and curling roller 6 carried by its slide 6 is also capable of horizontal movement in the frames 6 due to the necessary horizontal movement of the chuck a to fit against the end of the receptacle to be closed. The slide has a pin 2', one at each side, working in an angular slot in the frame, and said pin is engaged by a lever "L pivoted at i to said frame and under the action of a spring 6* whereby as the chuck a is moved to the right 1) to engage the adjacent end of the receptacle, the fianging and curling roller 6 will follow it up, due to lever i and spring i until tl pin 2' is opposite the vertical part of the slot '5 At the head-stock end no horizontal movement of the flanging and curling roller 6' is required but it has vertical movement guided by pin 2' in slot i With the flanged ends in the body of the receptacle and with the lip on the end engaging the edge of the receptacle as indicated at position 1, f, the ends and body being held between the chucks a 6 and supported at the edges by the rollers 7, the flanging and curling rollers e are then moved downwards by means of the rods 0*. links 6 lever e shaft h, lever 7L3 and cam k this operation causing the bevelled parts of the rollers c to flange the body and ends of the receptacle, the thrust being taken by the seaming rollers f which are held in the required position shown in Fig. 1 by the springs 7. in other words, the edges of the receptacle body and what may be considered the elongations of the flanges of the ends or heads are bent over at right angles, since a portion of the end flange is drawn out to an extent corresponding to the depth of the body flange. The condition of the parts at this stage is shown at position IT in Fig. 4;.

The pins 2' on the slides e are during this operation, moved downward in the vertical slots 2'- at the bottom of each of which is a catch pivoted to the frame 6, said catch being urged in an upward direction under the actionof a very light spring 7' which bears on a pin j carried by the catch. As the pins 2' in their downward movement en the catch it is slightly depressed against the action of its spring to a position at the bottom of the slot "2 as shown Fig. 1 and then forces the pin into the upper part of an enlargement 2' of said slot. the curved end of the catch directing the pin in tl s movement. The catch is then slightly lifted by friction with the pin and afteri'v'ardsdr'ops hack to its spring 9'}, the upw'a d movement of which is arrested by step fi on the frame e. The earn whir s operates the slide is of such contour'a's to J1 Ml force the pin i into the top of the curved slot end 2' and this movement, together with the prevlously mentioned movements of the pin 2', will slightly shift the Hanging and curling roller 6 again horizontally and bring its curling or curved portion into: position to act on the flanged portion previously prothe upper end of the slot as mentioned,.the slide 6 and roller 6 are consequently heldagalnst movementwhilst-the curling operation is performed, the condition of the parts being then as illustrated at position III in The flanges on therecept acle body andends have thus been curled together to in itially start the seam which iscompleted by the final operation" of closing, or pressing together the curled flanges, As a preliminary to this step the slide 6 is lowered by its cam to bring the pin 71 out of the curved part 2' of the slot and the spring f ofthe seaming roller f? then moves the latter out-o wards to force the; flanging and curling roller away, thus bringing the pin 2' into the vertical part of the slot, and the, cam

then causes said pin torise again. The seammg roller f -is thus enabled to resume its original position for flattening the joint, for which purpose'it is raised and therequired pressureproduced by its cam cl and the, connections previously described, When this flattening or final seaming operation is completed and the flanged, and seamed joint finished (final position shown at IV in Fig. 4), the chuck a is moved back by the springs a carrying with it the flanging and curling roller and leaving the sealed receptacle supported on the rollersg I Only one set of mainoperating cams d,

7L 71 need be provided and similar actuating'devices embodying levers d, 6 links cl, 6 and rods 7 e are provided forthe mechanisms adjacent both head and -.tail-' stock. In the drawings however only one set of'such actuating devices has beenshown' for sake of clearness. It will be obvious however that the apparatus -may .be so designed as to apply but-Ya single end to a receptacle in which case two chucks are necessary but only 'a single set offlanging,

curling and seaming rollers with associated actuating devices need her-provided, or if present in duplicate means for throwing one of said sets out of: operation can' be furniShedQ The chucks may be rotated at any required speed inrelation' to the'cam" shaft 0 at the ratio 3 required'to'properly produce the flanges and seams, for exam'plafor one revolutionof 'the'cam shaft the chucks may be given to revolutions;

The adjustable chuck a is manually con trolled to'bring it into engagementwith the adjacent end of the receptacle and force the: opposite end into engagement with the non-v adjustable chuck by means of a lever system 71:, [0 Z0 the latter of which is connectedby a bar 76 slidable longitudinally of the machineframe. This bar is shifted by means of a bell-crank which is operated by a hand-lever through a link 70 and to retain said bar in operative position its rear face is provided with a V notch into which a spring catch Z is adapted to snap. For different sizes of work this notch is brought to correct position by adjustable nuts .10?

on the bar 70 Said catch is s-lidable in a housing containing a spring Z and co-operates with a let-ofl motion comprising a lever Z one end of which is engaged by a shoulder Z on a disc Z keyed to the cam shaft 0 so that asthe' disc revolves it will act on the lever to release the catch and thus automatically free the clutch on completion of the operation This may also be effected by hand by the handle Z when necessary. The hand lever 70 also acts to control a brake which is normally on. Depression of lever to start the machine will act through lever m, rod m and lever m? to expand or release brake shoes m which surround a drum 172 on the main drive shaft 6 A connection a (Figure 3) is'also providedfrom said lever for controlling the clutch previously mentioned which is not operated until the Work has been engaged by the movable chuck a a u What I claim as my invention and desire to secureby Letters Patentof the United States is j I a l. The method of connecting closures to the ends of cylindrical bodies, consisting in providing a cylindrical body and a flanged disk closure forthe end of said body, inserting the flanged disk in the end of the cylindrical body, then flangin'g said body and disk flange laterally to extend in con tiguous relation to-each other, then curling said flange portion of the body and disk flange into interlocking relation, and then flattening the same, said fianging, curling and flattening being performed automat ically in successive sequence.

I 2.111 apparatus for securing closures to tubular sheet metal bodies, a pair of rotatably supported chucks one of which is axially movable toward and away from the other, means operatively connected to one chuck to rotate said chucks, a flanging and curling roller yieldingly held incontact with as the chuck is applied to the Work to posi tion. said roller to perform the flanging' operation; and returned to normal position 1 by the chuck as retractive movement is imparted to the latter for removing the tinished work.

3. In apparatus for securing closures to tubular sheet metal bodies, a pair of rotatably supported chucks one of which is axially movable toward and'away from the other, means to rotate said chucks, a flanging and curling roller yieldingly held in contact with the movable chuck and thereby adapted to participate in the movements of said chuck as the chuck is applied to the work to position said roller to perform the flanging operation, and returned to normal position by the chuck as the latter is retracted for removing the finished work, a seaming roller normally yieldingly positioned relative to the body in line with 'a chuck and adapted to co-operate with said flanging roller to etlect the flanging operation, and means to move said flanging roller to curl the flanged portions, said flangin'g roller being arranged to displace said seaming roller during the movement of the flanging roller to position to effect a curling of the flanged portions.

t. In apparatus for securing flanged closures to tubular sheet metal bodies, a pair of chucks one of which is movable toward and away from the other and between which the tubular body with a flanged closure inserted in the end is engaged, a flanging and curling roller, a seaming roller normally urged to position in line with a chuck, means to move the flanging and curling roller laterally of the closure flange and tubular body to flange the same laterally, then longitudinally of the body to effect a curling of said flanged portion, and to impart reverse longitudinal and lateral movement to said roller, and mans to press the seaming roller against the curled flange to flatten the same.

5. In apparatus for securing flanged closures to tubular sheet metal bodies, a pair of rotatable chucks one of which is axially movable toward and away from the other and between which chucks the tubular body with the flanged closure inserted in the end is engaged; a flanging and curling roller supported to have horizontal movement parallel with the movable chuck and vertical movement and normally positioned to engage at the rear of said chuck; yielding means to urge said roller toward the chuck and thereby participate in the axial movement thereof; means to impart movement to the roller radially outward from the chuck to effect a lateral flanging of the closure flange and tubular body, and then horizontally and radially inward toward the chuck to position the same to effect a curling of the flanged portions, and efl'ect reverse ra dial outward, horizontal and radial inward movement of said roller; a seaming roller normally urged to position in alinement with the chuck; and means to forcibly press said seaming roller into engagement with the curled flange to flatten thesame.

'6. In apparatus for securing flanged closures in the ends of tubular bodies, a pair of chucks to engage in the flanges of the closures and position the same in the ends of the body; 'a hired support in which one or said chucks is rotatably mounted; a support adjustable toward and away from the fixed chuck support in which the other chuck is rotatably mounted and to have axial movement toward and away from the other chuck; driving means normally disconnected from and adapted to be connected to one of said chucks to rotate the same; rollers arranged to flange and curl the contiguous portions of the closure flanges and body together, said normall positioned in the rear of the chucks and one of said rollers arranged to participate in the movement of the c-ne' chuck toward and away from the other chuck.

7. In apparatus for securing flanged closures to the ends of tubular bodies, a pair of chucks to engage within the flanges of the closures and position the same in the ends of the body, one of which chucks is movable toward and away from the'other; driving means for one of said chucks normally uncoupled therefrom; means to move the movable chuck and simultaneously couple the driving means to the one chuck; flanging and curling rollers normally positioned in contiguous relation to the chucks and one of which is adapted to participate in the movement of the movable chuck in its movement toward and away from its companion chuck; and means to move said rollers radially outward to flange the closure flange and body outwardly, and then move said rollers in a direction parallel to the axis of and radially inward of the chucks to curl the flanged closure flange and body, and return said rollers to initial position; seaming rollers; and means operative during the return movement of flanging and curling rollers to forcibly engage the seaming rollers with the curled flange to flatten the same 8. In apparatus for securing flanged closures to tubular bodies, a pair of chucks between which the tubular body with the flanged closures inserted int-he ends is engaged; Qflang'ing and curling rollers; carrier slides to "said rollers normally positioned with the rollers in contiguous relation to the chucks, and adapted to have reciprocator'y movement radially of the chucks and in aairectieaat right angles to one another to e fieet a magi-11g and earl-in of the closure flanges and ted-y.

9-. n1 apparatus for securing flanged closures to tubular hatches,

a pair er GlHl GlIS be gaged, one of which chucks is'movable toward and away fromthe other to'clamp and sup movable chuck to work portsaid'body between the chucks; means to rotate said chucks normally uncoupled therefrom; means operative to move the supporting position and couple the chucks to the rotating means; a pair of flanging and, curling rollers; carrier slides for said rollers normally positioned with the rollers at the ends of the body means operative from the chuck rotating means to move the carrier slideswith the rollers radially of the chucks .toflange the closure flange and body and in angular relation to one another to curl said flanged portions; seaming rollers supported to have movement radially toward and away from the chucks and axially thereof; and means operative from the chuck rotating means to position said rollers relative to the work during the flanging operation of the flanging rollers, away from the body during the curling of the flanged portion, and then toward the curled flange to flatten the same.

10. In apparatus for securing flanged closures to tubular bodies, a pair of chucks one of which is movable relative to the other to clamp and support the tubular body with the closure inserted in the end between the same; a flanging and curling roller movable radially and axially of the chucks to flange the flange of the closure and body laterally and curl said flanged portion; and a seaming roller to support the body during the flanging operation and co-operate with the flanging roller to curl the flanged portion, and forcibly engaged with the curled flange to flatten the same.

11. In apparatus for securing flanged closures to tubular bodies, a pairof rotatable chucks one of which is movable relative to the other to clamp and support the tubular body with the closures inserted in the ends; means to rotate said chucks; a clutch to couple said rotating means to one of the chucks, said clutch being normally positioned to uncouple the rotating means from the chucks; rollers to flange, curl and seam the closure flange and body together; means operative from the chuck rotating means to move said rollers in a direction radially to the chucks and in angular relation to one another to effect the flanging and curling operation; means operative to move the one chuck relative to the other and actuate the clutch to couple the one chuck to the rotating means and arranged to retain it in said position; and let off means with which the chuck positioning means co-operates to actuate the clutch to uncouple the rotating means from the chuck.

12. In apparatus for securing flanged closures to tubular bodies, a pair of tail stocks tubular body with the tion one of which is adjustable toward and away from the other; chucks rotatably mounted in said tail'stocks and one of which is axially adjustable relative to the other; a frame carried by the tail stock of the adjustable chuck; a flanging and curling roller; a slide by which said roller is carried, said slide having a pin to engage in an angular slot in the frame to guide the slide, first for horizontal movement, then for Vertical movement and followed by a further horizontal movement, said slide being normally positioned with the roller engaging the movable chuck; means to yieldingly maintain the slide in said position and participate in the axial movement of the chuck; cam actuated means to impart said movements to the roller carrying slideto flange the closure flange and tubular body laterally and curl the flanged portion of the closure and body; and cam actuated means to co-operate with said flanging and curling roller during the flanging and curling operathereof and operative to flatten the curled flange.

13. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the flanging and curling roller is carried by a slide provided with a pin guided in an angular slot first for horizontal move ment, then for vertical movement followed by an additional horizontal movement to bring it to curling position.

14. In apparatus for securing flanged closures to tubular bodies, a pair of chucks between which the tubular body with the flanged closure inserted in the end is en gaged; a roller movable in a direction radially and axially of the body supported by the chucks toflange and curl the closure I flange and body; a seaming roller; and means to position said seaming roller relative to the body and in line with the chuck to co-operate with the flanging roller during the flanging operation of the latter to flange the closure flange and body, move the seaming roller away from the chuck during the curling of the flange by the flanging roller, and then in a direction to engage and flatten the curled flange.

15. In apparatus for securing flanged c10 sures to tubular bodies, a pair of chucks one of which is movable relative to the other to clamp and support the tubular body with the closure inserted in the end between the same; a flanging and curling roller movable radially and axially of the tubular body to flange the flange of the closure and body and curl said flanged portion; and a seaming roller to support the body during the flanging operation and co-operate with the flanging roller to flange the closure flange and body and forcibly engage with the flange after it has been curled to flatten the curled flange.

16. In apparatus for securing flanged closures to tubular bodies, a pair of chucks one of Which is movable relative to the other to clamp and support a tubular body With the closure inserted in the end between the chucks; a roller adapted to be positioned in the rear of the chuck and to have movement axially, then radially and then axially oi": the body carried by the chucks, and being arranged and operative during said movements to flange the closure flange and body laterally, and then curl the flanged closure flange and body; and a seaming roller, said roller being adapted to co-operate with the fianging roller to flange the closure flange and body laterally, and moved away from the flanged portion of the closure flange and body during the curling operation of the erally and then ourl said flanged portion, and a roller to flatten the curled flange.

In Witness whereof I have signed this specification. h

GEORGE WILLIAM BER 

